Ben you can come over and jump in my Hot tub anytime!!!
Thanks for all the input thus far. It has been exciting and helpful. Thoughts are still coming togther but I'm hoping to make it happen this summer instead of next!! Literally Time will tell (that Stupid Job keeps getting in the way of my fun time!)
SO keep the help and pics coming and thanks!

well ground has been broken - rocks have been gathered and Ideas are being laid, stay tuned for some progress pics soon - I hope!
I can at least get the cleared area rocks and sorta hole pics posted soon!

ok so I'm faster than I thought for pics:
the area:
some materials:
closer / the turqouise bucket is gonna be the catch ond house the pump - it will get a liner

with Daizy the dog - for scale of course!

Any input would be great - the idea is to have a wooden tiki spraying the water from mouth / through a tube into a clam shell that will then spill / cascade down the rocks - not a big drop but it will make a bit of splash sound. We'll see!

I plan on some lighting in a dn around and behind it some Bamboo "fencing" and plants / palms.

PLease speak up with thoughts or possible problems!
_________________idolmakerfilms.com

The ponds they sell at Lowe's etc. are black, so I doubt black is an issue. You don't want it in the sun anyway, or the algae will get out of hand quickly. They are also pretty cheap. Maybe $50 for a pretty good sized one. I have been considering this project myself. They have lots of pumps and supplies, so it could be an easy-ish project. Lots of digging though. Liner, pump, tubing, and that's all under $100 for a pond about 4 feet across. Add rocks and run the tube through the rocks to pour out as you want.

Here's a ponding forum with tons of info that can help if you need: http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/ponds/It has tons of info buried in it's pages- so much it will make you second guess yourself if you research too much. Great info for making a low care setup. There's a gallery link towards the top so you can see what others have done.

ok so moving closer heres some more shots..
oh yeah the pools open now too!
tiki to be the spitter fake clamshell
from the diving board
testing for length of hose need and type of pump
general idea
stay tuned - rocks and spray foam are next!

some more updating
tiki has a spitter and it looks to be working
wahine adjusting and testing

More to come just got to adjust some more rock reset rocks and spray the black foam.

I noticed on great thing - unplanned and I'll post a pic soon. From my inside bar I can see the fountain easily out the window - so While mixin mai tais and Fogcutters I can look out and see the fountain action - Once it gets goin and I light it up!

Its been a while and the fountain is still working, a few tweaks of rocks and a shell replacement from oceanic arts - its plastic. The night shot is not so great but I'll use my good camera at some point in the evening and update.
sideways again....